Harness-buckle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRENDERGAST, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HARNESS-BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,601, dated November 10, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PRENDERGAST, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Buckle, which may be termed a Double-Purchase Trace-Buckle, it being intended principally for harness-traces, although applicable to various other purposes; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the fol- `the tongue of the buckle extends through it. Such bend, in consequence of the manner in which the trace is borne against the front portion of the buckle causing much wear and liability of breakage of the trace.

In my improved buckle, the trace can be carried through the buckle with very little if any bend, and it is supported in such manner that the strain on it shall be borne only in part by the tongue, whereby, the hole through the trace through which the tongue may pass, may be relieved from much strain, and rendered less liable to be worn.

I form the front end of the tongue of the buckle with an upward bend, or stud a, as shown in Fig. 4. I also construct the said tongue with a shoulder or recess extending across it as shown at b, in Fig. 4, such shoulder being to abut against or receive a bridge or cross bar cl, extending across the body of the buckle and underneath the same as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Furthermore, at the saine distance from the main tongue stud, a, that any two adjacent holes in the trace, are made apart from one another. I arrange on and cause to project above the tongue, a separate or eXtra stud, c, which may be made of a size to tit to either hole of the trace. This eXtra stud, when the buckle is in use, passes through the trace in manner as shown in Figs. l, and 4t, and serves to bear a portion of the strain that may be imparted to the trace. Without the bridge, the tongue of the buckle would fall back and become disengaged from the trace when in use. The function of the shoulder or recess is to relieve the tongue joint from the strain of the trace and thus save it from wear.

The advantages of my improved buckle are, as follows: 1st. The trace has little or no bend where it passes through the buckle. 2nd. It is supported by or on two studs so that a portion of the strain on it, is borne, in part by each of them, the saine causing the trace to wear much longer than when the strain is borne on the tongue in the usual manner. tongue is borne principally by the remainder or body of the buckle, whereby, the joint of the tongue is not only greatly relieved from wear but is prevented from being broken under a strain on the trace.

I do not claim a buckle formed with a bridge for support of its tongue when the front end of the tongue is arranged with respect to the body of the buckle as above specified.

What I claim in constructing a buckle with a supporting bridge for its tongue and with the end of its tongue bent upward as specified is- Forming such tongue with a recess or shoulder, b, in order that the strain on the tongue may be so borne by the body of the buckle as to relieve the joint of the tongue from the strain and wear thereof that would result therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature this 23rd day of September A. D. 1857.

JOHN PRENDERGAST.

3rd. The strain on theV 

